Police have opened up an arson investigation after someone tried to blow up a house in Windward Oahu.

It happened last night around 10:30 p.m.

Neighbors heard an explosion and then saw a man leaving the scene carrying a gas can.

The homeowners say it could have been so much worse.

This newly renovated Enchanted Lakes home is now the scene of an arson investigation.

From the front you can’t see much damage.

But in the back of the house you can see traces of the explosions.

An explosion that rocked this entire neighborhood.

“I was in my room heard an explosion and glass shattered, and I looked outside and the first floor was combusted in flames,” described Galen Sato, a neighbor.

“It blew the back windows and glass pane windows in the back of the house, and theres glass blown 20-feet out the front,” said Dan Gilfillan, another neighbor.

Several neighbors came out to see what happened and saw a man running off.

“I opened the garage door and saw a person walking right about the middle of that driveway looked like a backpack or carrying something,” said Gilfillan.

“I saw a figure walking between a truck and when the garage door opened I was trying to sneak up on him but he saw the garage door and started running,” said Sato.

Police say the suspect used an accelerant to ignite the fire but because all the windows were closed, the fire died out quickly.

“Our first fire company that arrived, confirmed that the fire was under control. It wasn’t a large actively spreading fire at that time, but there was reason enough to call the investigator,” explained Honolulu Fire Department Captain Terry Seelig.

The house was just put on the market and has been vacant for most of this year.

In fact, it is currently in escrow.

The current homeowners, who did not want to go on camera, say they believe they know who did this and even have a good idea why but they would not explain further.

They did say the suspect suffered burns on his body and left behind DNA evidence that will assist police in their investigation.

“While this investigation isn’t closed yet, it’s still under active investigation, it’s the assistance of the community with information that will help us complete the cause of origin,” said Seelig.

“I sure hope they catch him and whatever’s going on is scary to happen in any neighborhood,” said Gilfillan.

The damage is estimated at $50,000.

Police say they have not made any arrests at this point but are following leads.